by Vonnie Davis
“Yeah, it’s a smaller version of what I got Piper, but I put it in a plastic bag with fresh catnip from the ranch, something my niece taught me. I got a card from her today, by the way. She had ‘To Uncle Reece’ printed real big on the envelope.” He chuffed a laugh. “Her momma barely had room to squeeze on my address. If you didn’t get anything for squirrely here…” He dipped his head toward the curious kitten. “Don’t worry, I’ll just sign your name to the card.” He winked and swaggered off.
The man had her so befuddled as she watched his ass in those tight jeans, he was nearly to her bedroom before it hit her. Damn, her cat couldn’t read!
—
Gina directed Reece to Warrior Falls Community Center, an oblong brick building that housed what few government offices the town had in the basement, along with a small jail. Mainly, the structure was used for parties, both private and for the entire community, along with dances, flea markets, and children’s indoor sporting events.
Trucks crunched over the gravel parking lot. Citizens yelled greetings and hugged. Conversation and laughter tumbled from the open doors. This was an adults-only event and everyone was in high spirits over having a night out.
At one end of the center were drink vendors, tables laden with food and sinful-looking desserts, and long tables covered with items for the silent auction. Reece walked along, sipping from a longneck, his arm wrapped around her waist as she fingered things that interested her. Her man stooped and inspected every room of a Victorian dollhouse.
“I don’t recall seeing one of these in Piper’s bedroom.” He fingered the pretty pieces of miniature furniture.
“No, I can’t justify the cost.” Her daughter had asked for one last Christmas.
Reece examined its structure, questioning her about the builder before he filled out a silent bid form. “Every little girl should have a dollhouse in her room. And look, its roof and porch posts are purple. Piper’s favorite color. I’ll buy her a little table to set it on.”
“You shouldn’t bid that high, you’ll get it for sure.” She saw the figure he’d jotted down.
“Well hell, baby, that’s the point. The money goes for a good cause and she’ll get a benefit from playing on the new playground equipment. Right? It’s a win-win for little blondie.” He stopped again after a few strides. “Look at this.” He picked up a hand-tooled bridle and reins. There were conch shells and turquoise inserts. “I feel guilty I didn’t get anything for Cochise for Easter.” Twinkling eyes focused on her. God, he was a piece of work.
“Did you get anything for Nance?”
He nodded as he filled out the silent bid form. “Yes. Several big rawhide bones.”
She shook her head and walked on while he further inspected the bridle. She spied an aloe plant in a pretty homemade basket. Snatching a pencil from the table, she filled out a bid form.
The band started and Reece took her hand. “Come on, lady that I love. Let’s go do some bumping and grinding.” He hip-bumped her as they strode to the dance floor, and he tossed his beer bottle into a trash container.
Owen Pohl, one of her patients, sat on a chair along the wall, tapping his boots to the beat. “Come on, I want to introduce you to someone special.” She dragged Reece to the Silvers and Owen, and they chatted and watched the crowd line dance to “Cotton-Eyed Joe.”
Taking the empty chair on the other side of Owen, she slung her arm over his shoulders and smacked a kiss to his cheek. “Hi, good-looking. I’m glad to see you out here tonight. I want to introduce you to someone very special. This is Reece Browning, who made me fall in love with him.”
The man, with a fringe of gray hair, took in Reece from head to toe. “Is that a fact?”
Reece hunkered in front of Owen. “I’m pleased to make your acquaintance, sir.” He smiled at Clint and Fran. “Clint, you better keep an eye on that wife of yours. She’s looking mighty cute tonight.” Fran preened and Clint nodded, a smile twitching his mustache.
Well, just listen to him flirting with Fran. I better keep an eye on this sexy hunk in case he decides to flirt with all the ladies here.
Clint elbowed Owen. “Buddy, this is one of ZQ’s boys. He’s a vet just like us. Damned fine man. He’ll treat our Gina right.”
“Or live to suffer the consequences if he don’t.”
“You tell him.” Gina laughed. “Owen’s got my back, Tool Belt.”
Reece stood and leaned over Fran to whisper in her ear. She gasped and her hand fluttered to her heart. “Land sakes!”
What was all that about? Before Gina could ask, Kelcee and Dustin joined them. Dustin seemed in half a huff and Kelcee was obviously pleased by it. “I got two wolf whistles on my way in here! Plain Jane me. Can you believe it?” She held up fingers and grinned wide. “Two.”
There was nothing plain about strawberry blond Kelcee. Especially tonight in her tight jeans and an aqua scoop-necked top with sequin straps, showcasing a generous amount of cleavage.
“Some sons-a-bitches damned near went home with no fucking teeth.” Dustin drained a sizable amount from his longneck. “See those two bastards shaking in their boots by the wall over there?” He jerked his head. All eyes in their group swiveled to where he’d indicated. One man was still trying to tuck his shirt back into his jeans, the one sleeve ripped from the shoulder. The other appeared shell-shocked with a swollen lower lip and his hair standing on end.
Reece laughed and tucked Gina to his side. “Poor fools have yet to learn you don’t mess with a SEAL’s woman.”
“Fuckin’ A, brother.”
Kelcee patted her husband’s chest. “Now, calm down and watch your language.”
Dustin mouthed the word “Mine,” and embraced her.
“Land sakes! So much romance already tonight.” Fran was all dreamy-eyed.
Dustin released the hold he had on his wife. “Steelhead, I’m going to talk to the band now. You ladies are in for a treat tonight. We’ll show you how a SEAL can get some hip gyrations going and the ladies squealing.”
“Or make a complete fool of himself,” Reece said with a laugh.
“What are you two up to?” Gina studied him.
The band started playing “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” and the crowd cheered as the dance floor filled with snaking bodies, swinging arms, and stomping boots. “Come on, let’s join in the fun. Talk to you fine folks later,” Reece said to Owen, Fran, and Clint before grabbing both her and Kelcee’s hands and leading them to the dance floor.
When Dustin joined them, the band was on its second singing of the honky-tonk song everyone enjoyed. He winked at Reece. “All set.”
“Both?”
“Both, man.”
Reece swung Gina around a couple of times and on her second dizzying turn she imagined she saw Piper. Surely not. She glanced that way again, but couldn’t make out anyone in the crowd. Too much happy excitement.
The song ended. “Ladies and gentlemen,” the leader of the band announced. “We’ve got a treat for you tonight. Two former SEALs who want to sing a song for their ladies.” Clapping, whistles, and hoots rose to the ceiling. “Dustin Franks and Reece Browning, folks!” He extended his hand and the two men jogged to the bandstand.
“Should we be afraid?” Gina clasped Kelcee’s hand.
Kelcee dragged her to the front of the crowd, shoving everyone out of their way. “My husband can do anything. And I want a front-and-center spot to watch him.”
The band started playing the intro to “Point at You.” The ladies in the building jumped and clapped. The two handsome men started singing about being hard-fighting men who enjoyed life on the wild side. Wow, their voices blended superbly. They could go pro. Okay, so Gina was a bit prejudiced, but wow…just wow! Their hips gyrated. At least she supposed Dustin’s did by Kelcee’s squealing reaction; Gina’s gaze was fused on Reece. So were her girly bits who were doing a bit of clapping and drooling of their own.
They sang about having only one soft side and then pointed to Kelc
ee and Gina. The rest of the women in the crowd went apeshit with appreciation or envy. Gina didn’t care which. The man pointing at her with eyes of love would be sleeping in her bed tonight. If she let him sleep after this public display of affection. A man was actually singing to her. How romantic was that?
Once the song ended, the applause was deafening. Dustin came off the bandstand and swooped Kelcee into his arms and spun her around, his lips locked on hers. Reece remained where he stood, his gaze sealed on Gina, melting her with unspoken words of possession and adoration. The band started playing “Give in to Me” and there was a collective feminine sigh in the huge room.
The song’s words of desire brought tears to Gina’s eyes. Funny, she’d always adored this tune, wondering if a man would ever love her like that. Her heart pounded a happy beat in her ears. This man. Oh, this sweet, sweet man did.
Reece slowly came off the stage and made small steps toward her. Lordy, her fingertips tingled with anticipation. He motioned to someone and Piper skipped out to join him, wearing a t-shirt that read “Daddy’s Girl” tucked into her jeans and a pair of cowgirl boots. So she hadn’t imagined things. She had seen her daughter. What the heck was she doing here?
Together Reece and Piper sashayed as he sang, their thumbs tucked into the tops of their jeans, dancing little side-by-side steps as if they’d been doing it for years, until they were in front of her. Piper reached into the pocket of her denims and handed Reece a small box.
The crowd went wild.
Gina went seriously numb.
Reece sank to one knee and flipped open the jeweler’s box to reveal a band of three large round diamonds as he sang how his heart was set on her and nobody else.
The song ended, his gaze fixated on hers.
The crowd was silent.
Waiting.
“This is a package deal, Blondie. You, Piper, and me. A forever kind of love that grows with each passing year. Marry me, baby.”
“Mommy, I picked out the ring!” Piper’s face was full of self-importance. “A diamond for each of us.”
This was the last thing Gina expected. It was too soon. Wasn’t it? Sure they loved each other and he was terribly good for Piper, but…
“I love you, Gina Mae Wilson. I’ve loved you since I set eyes on you. You’ve accepted me the way I am and I’ve accepted everything about you. Will you do me the honor of being my wife and growing old with me?”
What he’d spoken was true. He’d accepted she could never give him a child of his own, as well as her past rapes, the ugliness of it. Lord knew he’d accepted her daughter’s conception. That was the biggest reason why she loved him so. She held out her hand, thankful it didn’t tremble. “Yes, love. I accept you just the way you are…I’ll gladly grow old with you.”
He slipped the ring from the box, held it for Piper to kiss, kissed it himself, and then slipped it on Gina’s finger. He stood and embraced her.
The crowd cheered. He scooped Piper into his arm to enfold in the circle of their embrace. “I’ve got my two girls right here,” he whispered. “My whole world. My whole fantastic world. I love you both.”
“Where are we going on our honeymoon? Disney World?” Piper glanced from Gina to Reece, her smile a mile wide.
“Baby girl, that’s a matter for a later discussion. Sweetheart, would you allow a new daddy to have his first father-and-daughter dance?” She nodded and he set Piper on her feet again. “First, before I leave you.” He wrapped his arms around Gina and leaned her over for a kiss that fired all twelve cylinders of her hormonal system. “I love you so much, Gina soon-to-be Browning.”
“I love you, too, Tool Belt.”
The band played “Lovebug.” Reece held his hand open and Piper, acting so grown up, placed her little hand in his. He walked her to the middle of the dance floor and whispered something to her. She stepped onto his feet and he led her through a Texas two-step, his lips moving, evidently giving her instructions. A pathway was cleared. Pictures were snapped. Little Piper gazed at him with adoring eyes.
Meanwhile, Fran, Junebug, and Kelcee rushed over to look at Gina’s ring.
Kelcee hugged her. “Imagine Reece being thoughtful enough to take your daughter shopping for this.” She held Gina’s hand in hers and nodded in appreciation. “Our SEALs know how to pick ’em, don’t they?”
“Yes, they do. They also know how to throw a surprise proposal. Remember yours?” Gina squeezed Kelcee’s hand.
“If I live to be a hundred I’ll never forget that night.” Kelcee glanced at her own ring.
“Fudge and buttermilk, Gina, Piper was so puffed up with pride after Reece took her along to pick out a diamond for you. Then they practiced dancing in the living room until they got the steps just right. Your daughter hasn’t talked about anything else all day. Getting her ready to come to the dance was like sticking a thermometer up a jack rabbit’s ass.” Junebug looked tired. Maybe they better take Piper home with them to give the older woman some rest.
Fran patted her heart. “This is all so romantic. Land sakes, they don’t write romance books this good. First Kelcee and now Gina. I wonder who will be next?”
“It damn well better be my Zane. I need grandchildren, so I do.” Junebug cast a provoked glare at her son and his date. “I pray every night, he won’t end up marrying that woman.”
“Yeah, Wanda’s not my favorite person, either,” Kelcee stated. “She used to make my life pure hell.”
“Just look at her over there practically climbing on Zane like a cat in heat. He deserves someone better than that. I think I’ll talk it all over with Jack Daniel’s when I get back to the ranch and put Piper to bed.”
That was Gina’s cue to insist on taking her daughter home tonight.
Chapter 20
In the truck on the way home, Gina leaned her head against Reece’s shoulder. Piper was asleep in her arms, the seatbelt stretched over them both. He reached for her hand with the diamonds twinkling in the glare of the dashboard’s lighting and brought it to his lips for a kiss. “Happy, baby?”
“Very. It was a night I’ll never forget. Nor will this exhausted little girl. You made it special for both of us.”
“Took you long enough to decide.” He turned into her driveway. “My heart damn near stopped beating,” he grumbled. After turning off the engine, he shifted in his seat to embrace her. “Do you think this little place will be big enough for the three of us?”
She loved this house she’d worked and sacrificed to buy and improve. No way was she moving. “There will be room.”
“One of us will have to park along the street. You only have a one-car garage and there’s not enough room to expand it to hold my truck.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Guess one of us will have to park his truck along the street.”
“Oh, I can see how my life is going to be here. My truck gets a spot on the street and my clothes will get hung over the trees and bushes.” There was teasing in his voice.
“See that?” She pointed to where the beam of his headlights shone. “When I had the garage built, the yellow siding didn’t match the old yellow already on the house. I think it shows up at that corner where they meet, so it’s just as well we don’t have room to add onto the garage. We’d probably end up with a tricolored home. Sometime I want to plant ivy or maybe one of those beautiful clematis to climb where the two parts attach and hope it hides the sudden difference in yellows.”
“If you promise me some of your sweet kisses”—he shifted her neckline with his tongue and planted his lips on the tops of her breasts—“I’ll plant clematis for you one day. I’m glad we brought Piper home with us. Once we tuck her in bed, we can put out her Easter stuff and talk a little. Then I’m going to love you like you ain’t never been loved before.”
She leaned in and bit his lower lip. “Promises, promises. Are you going to wear your tool belt to bed? Is that what you’ve got packed in that bag of yours?” She waggled her eyebrows.
“Woma
n, you will kill me. Promise you’ll bury me in my fatigues and a tool belt.” He kissed her in that sweet spot below her ear and her body hummed with need. “I’ll come around, get our little girl, and carry her into bed.”
Gina pulled back purple covers and helped Reece take off Piper’s little boots and jeans. The child never once stirred. “Where are we putting the dollhouse, Blondie?” Reece stepped to Piper’s chest of drawers, glanced at the corner. “If we place this on an angle across the corner, I can put the table here where it sets now.”
“She’ll flip when she sees it. You spent too much.”
He was holding his hands apart as if he was measuring the area. “I’ve got six years to make up for. Indulge me. Yup, I think this will work.”
Resigned that Reece wasn’t going to play with him, Whirlwind hopped on the bed. He sniffed over his mistress and flopped beside her, raising his hind leg to lick himself.
“Fuzzball’s playing his bass fiddle,” Reece quipped and strode out. She followed, silently closing Piper’s door. He went into Gina’s bedroom, unzipped his bag, and removed a bottle of champagne. “Could you put this on ice, baby?”
She pulled off her boots and wiggled her toes. “Sure.” She held the bottle to her chest. “You thought of everything tonight, didn’t you?”
“I’m only proposing once. Like the words of the song, you’re the only woman I want.”
She eyed his bag. “Should I clear out a drawer for you? How long are you staying?”
He sat on the bed beside her and tugged off his boots. “That’s one of the things I need to talk to you about tonight.” His gaze swept over her and hazel eyes darkened. “Get off this bed before I forget all about talking. Damn, you are so beautiful and I am fifty-nine shades of in love with you.” His fingers trailed down her face. “We’re engaged, Blondie.”
“Any regrets?”
“Only that I didn’t meet you earlier, like when I was eighteen or twenty.” He pushed her back on the bed, his thigh between her legs. “But then we wouldn’t have Piper and I love her just the way she is.” He buried his face in her neck. “God, how did I get so lucky?” His question was a moan of surprise wrapped in raw need. “Ice the bubbly. We’ll talk while it chills.”
